28/02/2026
BROKEN IN SILENCE
By Stella Uyo
PT 1: GROWING UP
It was a Monday morning, all the children had gone to school, parents had gone out to cater for the family's need.
I and my siblings were out already, on our way to school.
Back in school, morning devotion was very important to both students and teachers as everyone would come out to the hall to sing, pray, and recite the national anthem, school anthem, and pledge. Confidence Grouo of Christian Schools was one of the best schools in Iriebe.
Iriebe is a small community in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State.
Announcements are also made in the devotion ground for students to hear and pass across to their parents.
"Good morning, students."
"Good morning, sir."
This is to bring to your notice that there will be fee drive starting from next week, so do well to inform your parents if you have not paid your school fees, and if you paid part, also communicate to your parents so they can pay up, failure to do so will be sent out of school next week, thus week is a week of grace, and if you don't pay before exams starts, You won't write the exams, am I clear?" Our school principal asked
"Yes, sir," chorused the students
This sounds familiar, right? It is a usual language in Nigerian schools.
Thus, announcements never used to be a problem to me because my parents made sure to clear my fees before the 3rd week of school resumption. I was a very lucky child, my text books ere always bought in time, my uniforms changed duely and I never lacked anything.
Things changed, this time, school fees were being delayed, texts book were no longer complete, I couldn't understand at first, I would always assure myself that my parents are capable of paying for everything I needed.
I was in S.S.S 1 when I experienced my first fee drive, it was embarrassing, I was shocked, and even my classmates and teachers were surprised.
"Stella, what happened? Are you sure Aunty Dorathy didn't make a mistake while calling out the names?" My classmates showed concern
Aunthy Dorathy was our school cashier, and she also taught food and nutrition for senior class and business for junior class.
She is my younger sister's Gid mother (Miracle)
"Stella, this is unlike your parents. You can stay for today, I'll call them to remind them, maybe they forgot,"
That was how I ended up not going home that day, but it still didn't change anything, I remained quiet in class all day.
When I got home, I told my mother about what had happened in school.
"Mummy, even me and Miracle," Precious added.
"It's well, my pikin." she gave a deep breath. That was when I understood that the table turned to a bad direction this time.
"No worry, I go pay everything immediately, money come, make una pray make God touch una papa mind to remember us becausei no understand wetin dey haopen again"
I could clearly see the pain in her eyes, dad at this pint hardly comes home, he's in for 2 weeks and travels for like 3 months, I and my siblings used to be fund of our dad but due to his new found attitude, we started drifting apart.
I come from a family if 3 girls, my Mon and my dad, my 2 younger siblings, Precious and Miracle, these two are beautiful and smart, my neighbours would always tease me to be the ugliest of my mother's daughters, but I was proud I have beautiful sisters.
With the way things were going, I could sense that my mom has a lot if responsibilities and would not be able to do it all hy herself, she sells hibiscus tea popularly known as Zobo, she halks it in the streets, and though she gets a lot of Patronage, it was only enough for food.
I promised myself that I would wipe the tears from my mother's eyes and make sure my sisters got to graduate from school.
To be continued...
It's a very short story
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